The Mighty Case

Sean Casey is a great guy to have on the Tigers: he's a mentor to younger players; he's a solid clutch hitter; he plays great defense at first base. Casey is also a player who might be out of a job with the Tigers next season — he hasn't hit for power, he doesn't knock in a credible amount of runs for a first baseman on a contender, and he's slower than a turtle with a broken leg and exposed shell.

Casey is one of my favorite Tigers; he's not Curtis Granderson, of course, but he's had an impact on the Tigers in just over a year: he was the team's best player in the World Series last year and took somewhat of a discount (if $4 million can be called a discount) to stay with the Motor City Nine in 2007.



Casey is a great teammate. From everyone you hear, he is a leader, a friend, a top–notch citizen in the clubhouse. Why do you think his nickname is "The Mayor." It's not because he likes the McCheeses at McDonald's — you watch Case during a game and he's chatting with everyone. He's a friendly dude who everyone seems to enjoy and like. I talked to Casey during Spring Training '07; he was polite, upbeat, and really seemed to like to talking to fans.

I remember the last thing I said to him: "Sean, thanks for sticking with the Tigers. We're glad to have ya." He said, "Thanks. I like being here. See ya later."

Maybe the Tigers can find room for a late–inning defensive specialist, lefthanded hitting stick off the bench, good guy to have around in 2008. It might be tough; chemistry is huge with this team, so maybe they'll find a way to keep The Mayor.